Now an innovative new design by Russian architect Svetozar Andreev seeks to conceptualize a new arch for the future.

Andreev, the head of architectural firm Hotei Russia, has designed "the Heart of Malta," a re-imagining of the original archway, made from mirrored steel faces.

"It will be a perfect monument and symbol of the fusion of modernity and nature, of time and history, and a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit," says Andreev of his grand vision.

New design

The original Azure Window, which collapsed in 2017.

Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images

The new landmark wouldn't be an exact copy -- thanks to the steel material, there's no attempt to make it look natural.

Rather, Andreev describes the man-made concept as a "a memorial" to the original structure.

He envisages the edifice with an explorable interior as well as exterior space -- think five floors of exhibition space, with each level dedicated to a different epoch of Maltese history, all connected by a spiral staircase.